Hedgehogs will soon be able to go about their business as normal as a fence, which had sliced their habitat in half, will be equipped with “hedgehog holes”.

A fence, which was put up in the place of a hedge removed as part of a City Deal (now Greater Cambridge Partnership) cycle scheme, had one big problem – hedgehogs could not get through it.

The fence, in Arbury Road in Cambridge, was preventing hedgehogs from travelling on their normal routes. After residents intervened, the Greater Cambridge Partnership has agreed to cut holes in the fence to allow the creatures to come and go.

Arbury Road resident Cab Davidson said: “It started in March. There was a consultation talking about putting in new cycle facilities in Arbury Road. It’s pretty good, but it’s not perfect.

“A few weeks later, they said they were removing the hedges. There are a lot of species living in it, and it is a good habitat. Worse, they put a fence up, and a hedgehog can’t get through that.

Read More

“A hedgehog can cover two kilometres a night – they walk quite a long way. I found one that was stuck because they can’t get through. They have cut their habitat in two. I have been telling them and asking them to sort it.

“They have now agreed to cut some holes for the hedgehogs. When you have the opportunity to do better...they really should take it.”

Mr Davidson also expressed fears about the loss of valuable habitats and bio-diversity caused by removing the hedgerows.